On 18/11, after Scotland defeated Denmark 4-2 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, full-back Andy Robertson admitted sadness over Jota's death. The interview immediately sparked debate that the late Portuguese striker was also the cause of Liverpool's recent run of defeats.
When asked about this at a press conference before Premier League Matchday 12, Coach Slot admitted he missed Jota both as a player and a person. However, he rejected the notion of a negative impact. "I cannot measure the impact of the incident on the results, but I would never use it as an excuse," Slot said. "Right now, I wonder how his wife and children must be feeling."
 |
Coach Slot (left) discusses tactics with Jota during the 2024-2025 Premier League season. Photo: PA |
Jota scored 65 goals in 182 matches for Liverpool, contributing to winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup. With the Portugal national team, he secured two Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
On the morning of 3/7, Jota and his younger brother Andre died in a car accident while driving in Spain, en route from Portugal to England. The car reportedly had a tire burst, swerved off the road, and caught fire.
In remembrance, Liverpool permanently retired jersey number 20 for the late striker.
Following Jota's death, Liverpool spent over half a billion USD to strengthen their squad. Two of the seven new signings, strikers Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, totaled 270 million. However, initial results have been completely contrary to the investment. Liverpool lost 7 of their last 10 matches across all competitions, including 5 in the Premier League. The defending champions have now dropped to eighth place, eight points behind Arsenal and four points behind Manchester City.
On the evening of 22/11, Liverpool will play at home at Anfield against Nottingham Forest. Last season, Jota himself scored to help the Merseyside club earn one point against this opponent. "When we were down 0-1 last season, Jota only needed one minute to equalize," Slot added. "We will certainly miss him both as a player and as a person."
By Thanh Quy / *ESPN*
